What We Learned From the Saints In Week 10
MINNEAPOLIS -- Just when you think the Saints turn the corner, Sunday happens. New Orleans entered hopeful to be able to put together a winning streak, but Josh Dobbs and the Vikings had other plans to put them back at .500 with a 5-5 record. Here's a bunch of thins we learned following Week 12 action for Dennis Allen and company.
What We Learned From the Saints In Week 10
Nov 12, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker D.J. Wonnum (98) sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT THE DEFENSE
It's another week that we're talking about the very lackluster start the Saints defense gets off to, as Josh Dobbs and T.J. Hockenson were two of the main drivers for the Vikings offense that punished New Orleans in the first half. By halftime, Minnesota was up 27-3 and the quarterback who has been with the team for less than two weeks and a hurt tight end were bullying Dennis Allen's defense. They allowed six plays of 20 yards or more in the game.
"I've got to find a way for this team to be more consistent. So, that's on me. I have to do a better job."
New Orleans has a real problem with a mobile quarterback and the pressure is not getting there or finishing plays. Even when they do, the play gets wiped out with a flag. Right now, there's just no consistency with the team. This type of football is not going to get the Saints into the postseason, and they desperately need to figure it out. It just looks flat.
INJURIES PILED UP, BUT THOMAS AND CARR OKAY
Derek Carr (right shoulder/concussion), Michael Thomas (knee), and Marshon Lattimore (ankle) were among the players who had early exits in the game against the Vikings. Thomas got hurt on the first hit he took due to the turf and the Saints were cautious with him as a result, while Carr was in the locker room following the game and has a good prognosis for being available after the bye from what I was told. As for Lattimore, that's one to watch. There were some other minor injuries to happen throughout the game with other plays, and they are just those. Again, the bye week comes at a great time.
WINSTON'S RELIEF APPEARANCE SPARKED SOME FIGHT
Jameis Winston was able to lead a couple of touchdown drives after coming in for Carr, which certainly helped the Saints be able to battle back and make things interesting. Had he been able to pull off the nearly impossible feat of tying the game, that surely would have been something. Winston showed off his good chemistry and connection with Chris Olave and got him and rookie A.T. Perry into the end zone. The defense was able to rally behind it and get some key stops, but it proved to just be too much at the end of it all.
THE TAYSOM HILL GROUND GAME WAS NON-EXISTENT
There were some good runs early on with Alvin Kamara, as he did some positive things on the ground all game. However, going down 24-3 totally changes up the game plan. Taysom Hill ended up having just one carry for 6 yards and wasn't a big factor on the day. He had been hot the past two games, but this just wasn't the day for him.
THE SAINTS ARE TOUGH TO FIGURE OUT
New Orleans continues to be this Jekyll and Hyde version on the field, and it's often times maddening to watch. The talent can be there and the players do work their tail off to be able to fight and compete, however the end result says they are what their record is. There's seven games left to go, with the majority of them being key NFC South showdowns. Dennis Allen has to get this right, because again, anything less than a postseason appearance is a failure with this team. Even if they do crack the postseason, the confidence just isn't there for them to do much with it.
